Wrestling sometimes gets pretty scary. In this new feature, we highlight its creepiest moments.
If you asked anyone in the world to name the scariest athlete in wrestling history, chances are pretty high that most of them would instantly respond with one name: The Undertaker. The character, portrayed by Mark Calaway, debuted on the scene in the early ’90s, instantly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Clad in funereal attire, and escorted to the ring by an ominous theme song and a manager named Paul Bearer (get it?!), The Undertaker was a dominant wrestler who was impervious to pain, and he became known for not only beating his opponents with ease but also stuffing them into body bags. His terrifying antics evolved over the years; The Undertaker memorably sacrificed opponents, buried them alive, and even hung one of them by the neck.
As a kid, he was terrifying. As an adult viewer, he was (and still is) just plain cool.
Back in March of 1996, I was still a kid. With a birthday coming in June, I hadn’t yet even turned 10 years old. And you better believe I was haunted by the events of March 18th.
Just a couple weeks before WrestleMania XII, which took place on March 31st, “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel was wrestling Barry Horowitz on a match on Monday Night Raw. While handily beating up Horowitz, Diesel’s attention was diverted by a casket being pushed down the entrance ramp. It was being pushed by Paul Bearer, and we all assumed that The Undertaker was inside.
After winning the match, Diesel armed himself with a wrench and cautiously approached the casket. He lifted open the lid, but it sure wasn’t The Undertaker he found inside…
Yes, Diesel found HIMSELF inside the casket, reducing the badass big guy (and everyone in the audience) to a uncharacteristically terrified state. It was an ominous warning from The Undertaker, predicting Diesel’s fate at the upcoming WrestleMania XII event; The Undertaker indeed ended up winning the big match, effectively making Diesel “Rest in Peace.”
There have been various theories over the years about how the magic trick was pulled off, but Kevin “Diesel” Nash recently revealed that it was not a wax sculpture in the casket, but rather Nash himself. The shot of Diesel in the casket was actually pre-recorded for the show’s television airing; inside the casket was a dummy, not actually seen up close by the live audience.
Pro wrestling nightmare fuel of the highest order.
You can watch the full segment below.
